Why People Commit Suicide?
Suicide is an act of putting oneself to death deliberately. Viewed mostly in negative light suicide not always functions as a way of ending one's own life, many institutions being there to use it as a weapon to commit mass destruction. Plentiful of terrorizing acts resulting in the manslaughter of several people at once has been executed all over the world by the means of 'suicide' only. In Japan, there is a ritual form of suicide known as 'harakiri' practiced as a way of preserving honor. In broader perspective, however, suicide is a self-inflicted fatal action meant for self- harm. The number of suicide committed every year all across the globe is shocking - a whopping one million. There reasons for people to commit suicide are various. In this paper I will try to highlight the most common factors driving one to the brink of suicide.
Causes of Suicide
Depression is the most predominating reason for suicide. Often a string of negative incidents in life triggers depression which if not treated properly within time might lead to something sinister resulting in suicide. Causes of depression vary for each individual. Sometimes, a chain of bad events occurring one after another drives one up the wall to commit suicide. Sometimes a sudden unexpected death of a beloved or a loss of job ignites feelings of frustration ending in suicide attempt. Whatever the reasons may be, depression is completely treatable with medical care and love of close ones.
Age
Age is also a factor contributing to suicidal actions. Suicidal tendencies are recorded to be high in number among young adults and older men and women above 80 years. While the stress of career, love life and job are driving the young adults to commit suicide, older men and women are prompted by loneliness, prolonging period of illness and growing physical infirmity.
Family History of Suicide
Family history of suicide is another reason accounting for many suicidal occurrences. It has been found out that people who have lost someone in their family to suicide is at higher risk of committing suicide themselves. Especially children having seen either of their parents dying of suicide are more aligned towards suicidal action.
Impulsive Action
Sometimes an impulsive action taken on the spur of a moment often leads to suicide. There are many such instances where people having committed the mode of action for suicide were struggling to remain alive at the last moment. Many people in a fit of temper light fire to their own bodies and then spend every remaining living moment trying to extricate from the web of fire, often resulting in the inevitability.
Mental Illnesses
Mental illnesses like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia often lead to suicidal deaths. Such mental disorders afflict the minds of their victims like plague subjecting them to self-destruction.
Substance Abuse
Substance abuse like alcohol or drug is also a contributing factor for suicide. Many people under the influence of drugs and alcohol lose their sanity of mind and commit self-inflictive action.
Conclusion
Escalation in the number of suicidal deaths worldwide is definitely one of the growing concerns worrying the psychologists. Taking into account all the trigger points of suicide - depression, age, substance abuse, family history and impulsive action, I think a more frank collective approach should be adopted to curb down the rate of suicide. Any sign of suicidal tendency should not be ignored and professional help should be sought immediately without delay.
Works Cited
Stöppler, Melissa Conrad, “What is Suicide?” Web: 2nd Oct. 2011. ()
Lickerman, Alex, “6 Reasons Why People Commit Suicide” Web: 3rd June. 2010. ()
Caruso, Kevin, “Suicide Causes”, Web:
Brown, Elizabeth, “What Causes Suicide? 6 Risk Factors” Web: 12th May. 2009. ()
Radwan Farouk, M, “Why Do People Commit Suicide?” Web: 18th December. 2012. ()
NIMH. “Suicide in the U.S.: Statistics and Prevention” Web: 27th September 2010
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